Envelope moistening device for a postage meter

ABSTRACT

A moistening device for separating and moistening the flap of an envelope passing through a postage metering system. The moistener apparatus comprises three integrally cooperating parts including a plastic molded flap separator having a uniformly contoured separating surface; a retainer which easily attached to, and disassemblies from, the flap separator; and a moistening pad which is received by the retainer, and is both easily insertable and easily removable therefrom. The retainer has a groove-like hinge extending substantially across its width at its point of attachment with the flap separator. This hinge flexibly biases the retainer and pad towards the envelope flap as it passes thereunder, thus providing positive contact between the flap and the wetting pad.

United States Patent 91 Lahore Jan. 14, 1975 ENVELOPE MOISTENING DEVICE FOR A POSTAGE METER [75] Inventor: Walter T. Lahore, Stamford, Conn.

[73] Assignee: Pitney-Bowes, 1nc., Stamford, Conn.

[22] Filed: Sept. 17, 1973 [21] Appl, No.: 398,091

[52] US. Cl 118/32, 118/268 [51] Int. Cl. B05c 1/02 [58] Field of Search 118/32, 264, 267, 268; 117/112 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,530,037 11/1950 Willis 118/264 X 3,334,610 8/1967 Faust 3,353,513 ll/1967 Schmitt 118/32 Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William D. Soltow, Jr.; Albert W. Scribner; Robert S. Salzman [57] ABSTRACT The retainer has a groove-like hinge extending substantially across its width at its point of attachment with the flap separator. This hinge flexibly biases the retainer and pad towards the envelope flap as it passes thereunder, thus providing positive contact between the flap and the wetting pad.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ENVELOPE MOISTENING DEVICE FOR A POSTAGE METER This invention pertains to moistening devices, and more particularly to an envelope flap separating and moistening apparatus for use in postage metering systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore, moistening devices of the type herein described, had separator flanges of metal, and semipermanently disposed moistening pads. The problem with the metal separating flange was that it could not be uniformly made. The separating portion of the flange is uniquely contoured and requires a smooth surface. This necessitates that a hand polishing operation be performed after casting or forging the flange, thus introducing disparities of shape and dimension into the contoured portion.

Naturally, when thousands of postage machines are in public use, it is not desirable for obvious reasons of reliability and servicing to have parts which vary from machine to machine.

The semi-permanent moistening pad posed-the problem that it needed frequent cleaning. Even despite frequent servicing, the pad often became satiated with glue residues from the wetted envelope flaps. This glue in addition to causing a deterioration in the wetting process, also gummed and tended to jam the movable hinge disposed between the separating flange and the moistening pad retainer.

In addition to the aforementioned difficulties, the hinge of the prior device required precise alignment and precision pinning, which added to the cost of manufacture and assembly. The present invention seeks to eliminate all of the above-mentioned drawbacks by fashioning a new design having fewer parts, and cost saving materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present inventive moistening unit comprises three integrally cooperating parts, which are half the parts formerly required for the same unit.

The three sections of the device include a plastic injection molded envelope flap separator, a plastic retainer for the moistening pad which has an integrally molded grooved hinge which acts to bias the retainer, and a throw-away moistening pad.

The plastic envelope flap separator can be molded to exactly conform to the proper flap separating contour, and to have the proper smoothness for ease of envelope flap separation. Thus, no further hand working of the flange material is necessary, and each flange section is identical from machine to machine.

The plastic retainer has a groove-like hinge which provides that the retainer and pad is sprung towards the flap of the envelope passing thereunder, so that proper moistening contact is insured between the moistener pad and the envelope flap. This grooved hinge depends upon the memory of the plastic to spring the retainer back into its original position whenever it is flexed.

The moistening pad is easily inserted within the retainer, and is held in place by the tongues of the re tainer and a plurality of recessed spikes. The moistening pad is designed to be discarded when it becomes overly ladened with adhesive from the envelope flaps. The pad is easily removable by sliding it out from between the tongues of the retainer.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved envelope flap moistening device for use in postage metering systems;

It is another object of the invention to provide an envelope flap moistening device having fewer parts, and ease of assembly;

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an envelope flap moistening device for use in postage metering systems which is low in cost, and interchangably compatible.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent and will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top unassembled view of the moistener device of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side unassembled view of the moistener device of this invention as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the assembled invention as taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a prospective partly-assembled view of the invention as shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Generally speaking, the invention is for an envelope flap moistening device for use in postage metering systems. The envelope flap moistener comprises a plastic separating contoured edge for parting the flap of the envelope from the envelope body to allow the flap to pass into contact with a moistening pad. A retainer for receiving an easily insertable moistening pad is connected to said separating member. The retainer has a groove-like hinge substantially extending across the width thereof and adjacent the separating member. The hinge operatively biases the retainer and an inserted moistening pad towards an envelope flap passingin proximity thereto. This biasing is to insure positive contact between the moistening pad and the flap of the envelope to be moistened.

Now referring to FIG. 1, the inventive moistening device is shown in its disassembled state. Element 1 is a flange-like member which fastens to the postage meter in the path of an incoming envelope awaiting to have its flap moistened and sealed. The flange-like member 1 has a smooth contoured surface generally shown by arrow 4. Surface 4 operatively parts the flap of an envelope from the body of the envelope. When the envelope flap is parted from the envelope body, it is then available for moistening and sealing.

The moistening of the flap of the envelope is accomplished by the moisture ladened pad 3. The pad 3 is inserted into a retainer member 2 as shown by arrow 5. The retainer is then inserted into the flange member 1 as shown by arrow 6 (also see FIG. 4).

When all the members 1, 2, and 3 are assembled as shown in FIG. 3, the moistening assembly is attached to the mailing machine by means of mounted bosses 7 as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The retainer 2 has two tongue-like projections 8 and 9 for receiving the inserted pad 3. Once the pad is inserted into the retainer it is held in place by means of spikes 11, (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) which are molded so as to project inwardly of tongue 9. When pad 3 is inserted between the tongues 8 and 9, the pad rides over the spikes 11. If the insert pad is caused to be pulled outwardly (in an opposite direction to that shwon by arrow 5), the spikes 11 will spear the pad and prevent its removal from the retainer. The pad can be removed easily, however, by sliding it sideways from between the tongues as shown by arrow in FIG. 4.

The retainer 2 is held in place in the flange member 1 by inserting the lip 12 of the retainer (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) into the slot 14 of the flange. The retainer is held in the flange member in similar fashion to the pad, by means of two spikes 15. When the lip 12 of the retainer is inserted into the slot 14, the spikes which normally project above the lip 12, are depressed within the slot, allowing the lip to slide into the slot (arrow 6). When the lip 12 is substantially inserted within slot 14, the spikes l5 snap upwardly into holes 16 of the flange as illustrated in FIG. 3. If the retainer is now caused to be pulled outwardly from the flange (opposite to the direction of arrow 6), the spikes 15 will abut upon the walls of hole 16, and prevent the removal of the retainer.

The retainer can be easily removed, however, by placing a pointed object such as'pencil point, into holes 16 to depress spikes 15, and conjointly pulling lip 12 from slot 14.

Spikes 11 and 15 will always tend to return to their original upwardly projecting positions, due to the memory of the plastic retainer material. The retainer of this invention has been molded of polypropylene, but other memory exhibiting plastics may also be used consistent with the workings of the invention. The retainer 2 also relies upon its plastic memory characteristics to achieve still another advantage. The retainer 2 is designed with an elongated groove 17, which extends across the width of the retainer, and is positioned adjacent the flange member when the retainer is inserted therein. The groove 17 provides a flexure capability to theretainer. As an envelope flap passes under the moistening pad, the normally downward bent of the retainer will cause the pad to positively contact and wet the flap. This contact will naturally force the pad and retainer to rebound upwardly, or more precisely, to articulatively flex about groove 17.

Now, because the retainer is composed of a plastic material that is possessed with a memory, the retainer and pad will resume its downwardly biased position, when the pressure exerted by the flap is removed (as when the flap passes away from the moistening unit).

The separating flange member 1 is injection molded from Delrin R, which provides the flange with a smooth accurately dimensioned contoured surface 4.

The material used for the pad 3 is a urethane foam, although other sponge-like materials would probably work just as well.

In addition to the advantage of reduced parts over the formerly used moistener device, the present invention has no actual moving parts, i.e., the grooved hinge 17 is a stationary integral part of the retainer.

The invention, is not to be limited to any particular material or specific design as illustrated by the attached drawings. The materials and illustrations presented herein are deemed to be merely exemplary in nature, and are presented solely for the purpose of providing an understanding of the invention.

The invention should be interpreted in scope and spirit as set forth by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An envelope flap moistening device for use in a postage metering system, comprising:

a plastic separating member having a contoured edge for parting the flap of the envelope from a body portion thereof, to allow said flap to pass into contact with a moistening pad;

a retainer connected to said separating member for receiving an easily insertable moistening pad, said retainer having a groove-like hinge substantially extending across a width portion thereof adjacent said separating member, said hinge operatively biasing the retainer and said moistening pad towards an envelope flap passing in proximity thereto, so as to insure positive contact-between said moistening pad and said envelope flap; and

a moistening pad for insertion into said retainer.

2. The envelope flap moistening device of claim 1, wherein said retainer is composed of plastic material having a memory, whereby said groove-like hinge tends to return the retainer to its original position after said retainer has been flexed about said hinge by said envelope flap.

3. The envelope flap moistening device of claim 1, wherein the separating member and said retainer in combination comprise means between themselves for rapidly connecting and disconnecting said retainer from the separating member.

4. The envelope flap moistening device of claim 1, wherein said retainer comprises two tongue-like members which sandwich the moistening pad between themselves.

5. The envelope flap moistening device of claim 4, wherein one of said tongue-like members contains a plurality of recessed spikes which are operable to spear the moistening pad and prevent the removal thereof from said retainer in a first direction, while allowing the pad to be easily removed from between the tongue-like members in a second direction transverse of said first direction. 

1. An envelope flap moistening device for use in a postage metering system, comprising: a plastic separating member having a contoured edge for parting the flap of the envelope from a body portion thereof, to allow said flap to pass into contact with a moistening pad; a retainer connected to said separating member for receiving an easily insertable moistening pad, said retainer having a groove-like hinge substantially extending across a width portion thereof adjacent said separating member, said hinge operatively biasing the retainer and said moistening pad towards an envelope flap passing in proximity thereto, so as to insure positive contact between said moistening pad and said envelope flap; and a moistening pad for insertion into said retainer.
 2. The envelope flap moistening device of claim 1, wherein said retainer is composed of plastic material having a memory, whereby said groove-like hinge tends to return the retainer to its original position after said retAiner has been flexed about said hinge by said envelope flap.
 3. The envelope flap moistening device of claim 1, wherein the separating member and said retainer in combination comprise means between themselves for rapidly connecting and disconnecting said retainer from the separating member.
 4. The envelope flap moistening device of claim 1, wherein said retainer comprises two tongue-like members which sandwich the moistening pad between themselves.
 5. The envelope flap moistening device of claim 4, wherein one of said tongue-like members contains a plurality of recessed spikes which are operable to spear the moistening pad and prevent the removal thereof from said retainer in a first direction, while allowing the pad to be easily removed from between the tongue-like members in a second direction transverse of said first direction. 